The first full-pad practice of Kent State's spring season featured a spirited Oklahoma Drill on Monday morning at Dix Stadium.

The Oklahoma Drill is a head-to-head battle between two players that starts with the sound of a whistle and typically doesn't end until one player is on the ground.

Every school has its own variation of the drill that was developed first at the University of Oklahoma, and most like to rename it..

Former Kent State coach Darrell Hazell used to call it the Steeler Drill in part because the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers were known for holding some vicious Oklahoma's featuring former Golden Flashes' star James Harrison during training camp.

First-year Kent State coach Paul Haynes calls it the Board Drill, "but it's the same thing," he said.

Monday's drill infused some needed energy into the Golden Flashes' spring (see link).


Oklahoma Drill, or Board Drill

While most of Kent State's football players were hard at work on the playing field at Dix Stadium during Friday third practice of the spring, a small group of Golden Flashes spent the evening toiling in a very different way in the stadium's northeast corner.

Wide receiver Tyshon Goode, safety Calvin Tiggle, offensive lineman Terrell Johnson and a handful of other injured Flashes spent most of the session swinging sledge hammers, pulling sleds, and throwing jabs in the old 1-2-3 boxing drill (see link).

Spring Practice No. 3

The graduation of longtime starters at quarterback and along the offensive line will create the biggest question marks for Kent State heading into the 2013 college football season.

The answers to those questions were still a long way off for the Golden Flashes as they opened spring practice this week, but first-year head coach Paul Haynes doesn't appear to be overly concerned (see link).

Spring Practice No. 2

From KentStateSports.com:

The first day of spring practice saw some other familiar faces working out in new roles. Most noticeable was Dri Archer, who spent time working on fielding punts. Archer is one of the most electrifying players in the Mid-American Conference as a running back, wide receiver and kick returner, but he has seen very little time as a punt returner during his time in Kent.

That will change in Archer's senior season.

"If teams are going to stop kicking off to me, I have to find another way to get the ball," said Archer, who was an All-American kick returner last season when he averaged 36.9 yards per return with three touchdowns. "It's going to be harder for teams to punt away from me. I should get some more returns back there."

During Archer's senior meeting with Haynes, he asked the coach for the chance to get on the field during punts.

"He wanted to do it, and when you have a kid who wants to do it and has a passion for it, then it is all good," said Haynes. "It gives us another facet in the game where he can make a play. The game is field position, so now teams have to decide if they want to punt to him, punt away from him, or punt the ball out of bounds … I'm excited that he wants to do it."

Tuesday was the first of 14 practices culminating in the annual Spring Game on April 27 at 6 p.m. at Dix Stadium.

Hands-On Day for Haynes in Spring Practice Opener

Akron: April 2, Spring game April 27
Ball State: March 26, Spring game April 20
Bowling Green: March 13, Spring game April 12
Buffalo: March 12, Spring game April 20
Central Michigan: TBD, Spring game April 13
Eastern Michigan: March 12, Spring game TBD
Kent State: April 2, Spring game April 27
Massachusetts: TBD, Spring game TBD
Miami (OH): March 25, Spring game April 26
Northern Illinois: March 20, Spring game April 13
Ohio: March 13, Spring game April 13
Toledo: March 14, Spring game April 12
Western Michigan: March 19, Spring game April 20

MAC spring practice schedules

MAC rival Miami calls itself the Cradle of Coaches, but Kent State has a roster that is second to none. College Football Hall of Famer Don James, College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz, four-time national champion Nick Saban, 2000 National Champion Bob Stoops, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers, New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees (who just so happen to be the last three Super Bowl champions) all either played or coached at Kent State.
And none of them produced a season better than 2012.
The Golden Flashes set a school record with 11 wins and claimed the MAC East title in the process. With Darrell Hazell gone for Purdue, Paul Haynes steps in to lead the charge.
"(This program) was built on commitment, it was built on sacrifice. That's a strong foundation. We will continue to build on that foundation," Haynes said.

Here is another great video by Kent State Football TV (see link).ent State Football TV



KENT STATE FOOTBALL TEAM ON THE RISE

this is included in Akron's football schedule?

December 6 Marathon MAC Championship Detroit, Mich. Ford Field (see link)

Akron 2013 Football Schedule

After eight years with the Browns, the only NFL team he's ever known, return specialist Josh Cribbs is on his way to Arizona. As the news became official, Cribbs posted this inspirational collage to his Instagram account, to thank Cleveland fans for their support.
It's been a blessing to be in Cleveland, wishing the best to the city & the Team. If I could stay I would...[/QUOTE]


Josh Cribbs Bid Browns Fans A Heartwarming Goodbye

Kent State returns star power in Dri Archer, Trayion Durham and Roosevelt Nix. But turnover in both the coaching staff and on the field should ensure a slow start for the Golden Flashes in 2013. Schedule, roster, projections and more below (see link).

2013 Kent State football's 10 things to know

Here is the 2013 MAC helmet schedule for all 13 teams (see link).

2013 MAC helmet schedule

The $16 million, 80,000-square-foot, 94-room Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in June (see link) and will be owned and managed by the university's foundation. As seen in the drawing below, hopefully the new hotel will have plenty of banners and photos promoting KSU athletics.




This post was edited on 2/17 11:59 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

A Partnership Seeks to Transform KSU and Kent

Kent State recently offered class of 2014 Newark (Ohio) Catholic QB Chayce Crouch. He talks about the KSU offer and his other recent offer from Toledo.

One of the better QB's in the state for sure, was impressed with him in a losing effort in the D6 title game.



Flashes offer Ohio QB

"Yeah, football's different. And so you can't coach people to get ready to
play football by riding around in an air-conditioned car eating twinkies."-- Bill Curry

(see link)

Note: Be sure to watch all four videos.




Boys of Fall Moments ~ "Football is Different"

Here is a link to videos of National Signing Day.

Flashes Accept 21 National Letters of Intent

Demetrius Monday, a three-star cornerback from Fairburn, Ga., who committed to Cincinnati last summer, and told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution[/I] last Thursday that he's back on the market after failing to hear from Tuberville - who accepted the Cincinnati on Dec. 8, less than 48 hours after Jones left for the top job at Tennessee - for a solid month. When Monday's family finally contacted the university last week, according to his father, they were told to "look other places" (see link).

Since Cincinnati is no longer honoring its offer to Monday, I'm curious if Coach Haynes is now trying to sign him considering Kent State has already offered a scholarship to him along with Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan. With this many offers, it seems to me Monday would be a nice pick up for KSU. Thoughts?




[/URL]

This post was edited on 1/13 10:24 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

Tuberville pulled our scholarships

There is GREAT NEWS!!!

Only this many days (see link) until the Heisman race begins!!!



Countdown to the Heisman Race

KSU apparel worn in unexpected places like New Orleans (see link).



Manning on the Street

Louisville (Ohio) Class of 2014 QB Joey Duckworth comments on his latest offer from Kent State and what his plans are moving forward.



Flashes offer junior QB

Kent State has landed a verbal commitment from Cleveland (OH) Glenville WR/ATH Chris Overton. I have spoken to Chris and will have as story up as soon as possible.


Chris Overton

you lose to a team that scores 4 points in a half and 25 in a game but somehow the Flashes managed to do just that losing to Northern Illinois tonight 67-65.

DeWayne Walker is considering leaving his job as head coach at New Mexico State just two weeks before Signing Day to take an assistant coach job with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told CBS Tuesday afternoon. Walker is expected to meet with an NFL team Tuesday night to discuss his opportunities.

In 2012, the Aggies went 1-11 and were 0-6 in the WAC under Walker. If Walker does leave, NMSU offensive coordinator Doug Martin would likely be in line to get the head coaching job, a source told CBS. The 49-year-old Martin spent seven seasons as the head coach at Kent State, going 29-53.

Doug Martin

Matt Stewart, a 2014 LB from Mason was offered by Kent State today. I'll have a full update with him tomorrow, he's excited for his first offer.

Matt Stewart

"We started this journey together. We're going to finish this journey together" -- James Franklin

Unfortunately, the 2012 Golden Flashes were unable to finish their journey as well as the Vanderbilt Commodores but that doesn't mean the 2013 Golden Flashes can't continue the journey and have a more successful outcome. If Coach Haynes, staff, and players show the kind of determination that the 2012 Vanderbilt Commodores show in this video (see link), I'm confident the 2013 Golden Flashes will finish the journey together. Go Flashes!!!

Vanderbilt reVealed: Music City Bowl

My wife was heart-broken by the result, but we enjoyed our time in Mobile.



Any chance Dave McMichael will be retained?